Mumbai: Reporting crimes on CR trains, stations could make you rich

RPF has introduced a campaign wherein commuters are encouraged to record proof of criminal activity taking place on CR trains and stations; passengers will get Rs 5,000 as a reward for doing so

In a bid to mobilise an entire army of people to prevent criminal activities on the Central Railway network, the RPF has introduced a system wherein commuters carrying proof of a crime in the form of photos or videos shot on their phones will be paid Rs 5,000.

The RPF hopes to reduce crime on Central Railway by making every passenger keep a lookout for criminal activities. File pic

“We keep a lookout for crimes on the railway premises and inside trains, but most of the time we don’t know the source and exact location and time. We have started a new campaign for commuters to submit the proof of crime and get rewarded for it,” said Chief Security Commissioner (RPF, Central Railway) A K Singh.

According to RPF officials, many people already take photos and videos of criminal activities like harassment of women, chain snatching and mobile thefts and post it on social networking sites. However, it takes time for the police to find out about the incidents through the websites, delaying investigations.

In many cases, the person who has taken the photo or video does not want his/her identity revealed and refuses to come forward. Singh said the initiative aims to tackle all these problems and give commuters an added financial incentive to report crimes and give proof to substantiate them.

To ensure that the RPF gets notified of the crime directly and gets all the required details, commuters have been asked to submit the proof to the RPF Chief Security Commissioner headquarters at CST. Singh said the RPF can ensure that the identity of the person reporting the crime is kept hidden.

“The names and other details of the passengers reporting the crime will not be revealed and will be kept a secret. We only want the details of the crime,” said Singh, adding that the initiative would also dissuade and scare criminals as nearly every passenger has a camera phone these days.

The RPF has also assigned four staffers to monitor social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. “The staffers check these networking sites for reports of crime on the railway network at least three times a day and submit their reports directly to me. Then, proper instructions for investigations are forwarded to the concerned police station and staff,” added Singh.